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ESO Y4B · Physics and Chemistry
Interaction · Kinematics

Equations and graphs of motion

A story: "you leave home at a steady pace, speed up when you realise you are late, and slow down at the entrance". That story can be drawn without a single word, using a graph. And from a graph — of position, velocity or acceleration — you can read what type of motion there is in each stage, without knowing the equation beforehand.

Before you start, make sure you know: Interpreting x-t and v-t graphs (3rd ESO)
Before you start, make sure you know: Linear functions (3rd ESO)

x-t graph: the gradient is the velocity

A stopwatch times two athletes: one covers $10\ \text{m}$ every $2\ \text{s}$ and the other $18\ \text{m}$ in the same interval. How can we compare at a glance, on a pair of coordinate axes, who is moving faster?

On the $x(t)$ graph, look at how steep the line is; on the $v(t)$ graph, check that it is a horizontal line, because the velocity does not change.

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The $x$-$t$ graph of a moving object is a horizontal line at $x = 5\ \text{m}$ for $10\ \text{s}$. It is shown in the figure. a) What is the state of the object during…

The $x$-$t$ graph of a moving object is a horizontal line at $x = 5\ \text{m}$ for $10\ \text{s}$. It is shown in the figure.

t (s) x (m) 5 10 x = 5 m
  1. a) What is the state of the object during this time?
  2. b) What is its velocity? Justify your answer using the gradient of the graph.
Solve
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The $x$-$t$ graph of a pedestrian is a straight line passing through the points $(0, 2)$ and $(4, 10)$, with $x$ in metres and $t$ in seconds. It is shown in the figure.…

The $x$-$t$ graph of a pedestrian is a straight line passing through the points $(0, 2)$ and $(4, 10)$, with $x$ in metres and $t$ in seconds. It is shown in the figure.

t (s) x (m) (0, 2) (4, 10) 10 2 4 gradient = ?
  1. a) Calculate the gradient of the line and state what physical quantity it represents.
  2. b) Write the position equation for the pedestrian.
Solve
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A classmate shows you two $x$-$t$ graphs: in the first, the position increases along a sloped straight line; in the second, the position increases along a curve that…

A classmate shows you two $x$-$t$ graphs: in the first, the position increases along a sloped straight line; in the second, the position increases along a curve that gets steeper and steeper. They are shown in the figure.

x (m) t (s) x (m) t (s)
  1. a) Which one corresponds to uniform motion and which to accelerated motion?
  2. b) Explain what happens to the velocity in each case.
Solve

v-t graph: the gradient is the acceleration

Two vehicles show $90\ \text{km/h}$ on their dashboards: one is travelling in a straight line at a fixed velocity and the other has just put its foot down to overtake. How do we show in a graph the difference between maintaining velocity and gaining it second by second?

Since $a \neq 0$, the $v(t)$ graph is no longer horizontal: it is a sloping line, and the $x(t)$ graph curves.

Velocity-time graph: a horizontal line represents uniform motion (a = 0) and a sloping line rising from the origin represents uniformly accelerated motion (a > 0) v t 0 Uniform motion: a = 0 Accelerated motion: a > 0 Δt Δv gradient = a = Δv / Δt
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The $v$-$t$ graph of a cyclist is a horizontal line at $v = 6\ \text{m/s}$ from $t = 0$ to $t = 5\ \text{s}$. It is shown in the figure. a) What type of motion does it…

The $v$-$t$ graph of a cyclist is a horizontal line at $v = 6\ \text{m/s}$ from $t = 0$ to $t = 5\ \text{s}$. It is shown in the figure.

t (s) v (m/s) 6 5 v = 6 m/s area = distance = ?
  1. a) What type of motion does it describe?
  2. b) Calculate the distance travelled using the area under the graph.
Solve
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The $v$-$t$ graph of a car is a straight line joining the points $(0, 0)$ and $(4, 12)$, with $v$ in $\text{m/s}$ and $t$ in seconds. It is shown in the figure. a)…

The $v$-$t$ graph of a car is a straight line joining the points $(0, 0)$ and $(4, 12)$, with $v$ in $\text{m/s}$ and $t$ in seconds. It is shown in the figure.

t (s) v (m/s) (4, 12) 12 4 gradient = a = ?
  1. a) Calculate the gradient of the line and state what physical quantity it represents.
  2. b) What is its value along with its unit?
Solve
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The $v$-$t$ graph of a car is a straight line joining the points $(0, 20)$ and $(5, 0)$, with $v$ in $\text{m/s}$ and $t$ in seconds. It is shown in the figure. a) Is…

The $v$-$t$ graph of a car is a straight line joining the points $(0, 20)$ and $(5, 0)$, with $v$ in $\text{m/s}$ and $t$ in seconds. It is shown in the figure.

t (s) v (m/s) (0, 20) 20 5 gradient = a = ?
  1. a) Is the car accelerating or braking? Justify your answer.
  2. b) Calculate its acceleration from the gradient.
Solve

Signed area: displacement; absolute areas: distance

If $v<0$, the area contributes a negative displacement. For the distance, add the absolute values of the areas, separating the stages in which the sign of $v$ changes. For example, $v=4\ \text{m/s}$ for $3\ \text{s}$ and $v=-2\ \text{m/s}$ for $2\ \text{s}$ give $\Delta x=12-4=8\ \text{m}$, but $d=12+4=16\ \text{m}$. In the following examples the velocities are positive, which is why distance and displacement coincide.

Velocity-time graph with the shaded area under the line representing the displacement of the object tv d = v · t (rectangle)
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The $v$-$t$ graph of a car has three sections: from $(0, 0)$ to $(10, 20)$, from $(10, 20)$ to $(30, 20)$, and from $(30, 20)$ to $(40, 0)$, with $v$ in $\text{m/s}$ and…

The $v$-$t$ graph of a car has three sections: from $(0, 0)$ to $(10, 20)$, from $(10, 20)$ to $(30, 20)$, and from $(30, 20)$ to $(40, 0)$, with $v$ in $\text{m/s}$ and $t$ in seconds. It is shown in the figure.

t (s) v (m/s) (10, 20) (30, 20) 20 10 30 40 d₁ = ? d₂ = ? d₃ = ?
  1. a) Calculate the acceleration for each section.
  2. b) Calculate the distance travelled in each section using the areas (triangles and rectangle) under the graph.
  3. c) What is the total distance?
Solve
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The $v$-$t$ graph of a metro train between two stations is: it accelerates from $0$ to $15\ \text{m/s}$ in $30\ \text{s}$, maintains $15\ \text{m/s}$ for $60\ \text{s}$…

The $v$-$t$ graph of a metro train between two stations is: it accelerates from $0$ to $15\ \text{m/s}$ in $30\ \text{s}$, maintains $15\ \text{m/s}$ for $60\ \text{s}$ and brakes to a stop at $15\ \text{s}$. It is shown in the figure.

t (s) v (m/s) 15 30 90 105 d₁ = ? d₂ = ? d₃ = ?
  1. a) Calculate the acceleration for each section.
  2. b) Calculate the distance of each section and the total distance between the stations.
  3. c) Calculate the average speed for the journey, rounded to one decimal place.
Solve

a-t graph: the area is the change in velocity

A train sets off with its accelerometer fixed at $0{,}8\ \text{m/s}^2$ for $20\ \text{s}$ and then the acceleration drops to zero. How do we work out the final velocity reached from the drawing of its acceleration against time?

Acceleration-time graph highlighting the rectangular area as the change in velocity ta Δv = a · t (rectangle)
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The $a$-$t$ graph of a moving object is a horizontal line at $a = 2\ \text{m/s}^2$ from $t = 0$ to $t = 6\ \text{s}$, as shown in the figure. If the object starts from…

The $a$-$t$ graph of a moving object is a horizontal line at $a = 2\ \text{m/s}^2$ from $t = 0$ to $t = 6\ \text{s}$, as shown in the figure.

t (s) a (m/s²) 2 6 a = 2 m/s² area = Δv = ?

If the object starts from rest, calculate its velocity after $6\ \text{s}$ using the area under the $a$-$t$ graph.

Solve
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The $a$-$t$ graph of an object starting from rest is: $a = 3\ \text{m/s}^2$ from $t = 0$ to $t = 4\ \text{s}$, and $a = 0$ from $t = 4\ \text{s}$ to $t = 10\ \text{s}$.…

The $a$-$t$ graph of an object starting from rest is: $a = 3\ \text{m/s}^2$ from $t = 0$ to $t = 4\ \text{s}$, and $a = 0$ from $t = 4\ \text{s}$ to $t = 10\ \text{s}$. It is shown in the figure.

t (s) a (m/s²) 3 4 10 area = Δv = ?
  1. a) Calculate the velocity at $4\ \text{s}$ using the area under the $a$-$t$ graph.
  2. b) What is its velocity at $10\ \text{s}$? Justify your answer.
  3. c) Draw the corresponding $v$-$t$ graph in your notebook.

You can do it on paper and send a photo with your answer.

Solve

Combined stages: rest, uniform motion and uniformly accelerated motion on one graph

Position-time graph with combined stages representing moving forward at constant velocity, rest and returning to the starting point constant velocity stationary returns
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The $x$-$t$ graph of a walking trip has three straight sections: from $(0, 0)$ to $(10, 50)$, from $(10, 50)$ to $(15, 50)$, and from $(15, 50)$ to $(25, 0)$, with $x$…

The $x$-$t$ graph of a walking trip has three straight sections: from $(0, 0)$ to $(10, 50)$, from $(10, 50)$ to $(15, 50)$, and from $(15, 50)$ to $(25, 0)$, with $x$ in metres and $t$ in seconds. It is shown in the figure.

t (s) x (m) (10, 50) (15, 50) 50 10 15 25 v₁ = ? v₂ = ? v₃ = ?
  1. a) Calculate the speed for each section.
  2. b) Interpret each section: what are the walkers doing in each one?
  3. c) How long does the entire trip last?
Solve
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The $x$-$t$ graph of an object is a straight line connecting the points $(0, 50)$ and $(10, 0)$, with $x$ in metres and $t$ in seconds. It is shown in the figure. a)…

The $x$-$t$ graph of an object is a straight line connecting the points $(0, 50)$ and $(10, 0)$, with $x$ in metres and $t$ in seconds. It is shown in the figure.

t (s) x (m) (0, 50) (10, 0) 50 −50 0 10 gradient = v = ?
  1. a) Write its position equation.
  2. b) Explain what the initial position and the sign of the gradient mean.
  3. c) Calculate the position when $t = 14\ \text{s}$ and explain the physical meaning of it being negative.
  4. d) At what time is it at $x = -50\ \text{m}$?
Solve
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The $x$-$t$ graph of a walk is: a straight line from $(0, 0)$ to $(4, 40)$ and another from $(4, 40)$ to $(8, 0)$, with $x$ in metres and $t$ in seconds. It is shown in…

The $x$-$t$ graph of a walk is: a straight line from $(0, 0)$ to $(4, 40)$ and another from $(4, 40)$ to $(8, 0)$, with $x$ in metres and $t$ in seconds. It is shown in the figure.

t (s) x (m) (4, 40) 40 4 8 v₁ = ? v₂ = ?
  1. a) Calculate the velocity for each section.
  2. b) Calculate the total distance travelled and the total displacement.
  3. c) Calculate the average velocity (displacement divided by time) and the average speed (distance divided by time).
  4. d) Explain why one of them comes out as zero and the other does not.
Solve

Working out the equation from data or from a graph

Position-time graph with experimental points lined up along a straight line of uniform motion tx points in a line = uniform motion
Practice★★☆Not started
Measuring the position of a laboratory trolley gives these data: at $t = 0\ \text{s}$, $x = 3\ \text{m}$; at $t = 1\ \text{s}$, $x = 5\ \text{m}$; at $t = 2\ \text{s}$,…

Measuring the position of a laboratory trolley gives these data: at $t = 0\ \text{s}$, $x = 3\ \text{m}$; at $t = 1\ \text{s}$, $x = 5\ \text{m}$; at $t = 2\ \text{s}$, $x = 7\ \text{m}$; at $t = 3\ \text{s}$, $x = 9\ \text{m}$.

  1. a) Plot the points on a $x$-$t$ graph in your notebook and check that they lie on a straight line.
  2. b) Deduce the position equation for the trolley.
  3. c) Predict its position when $t = 10\ \text{s}$.

You can do it on paper and send a photo with your answer.

Solve
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The position of a moving object, in SI units, is $x = 10 - 3 \cdot t$. a) Calculate its position at $t = 0\ \text{s}$, $t = 1\ \text{s}$ and $t = 2\ \text{s}$. b)…

The position of a moving object, in SI units, is $x = 10 - 3 \cdot t$.

  1. a) Calculate its position at $t = 0\ \text{s}$, $t = 1\ \text{s}$ and $t = 2\ \text{s}$.
  2. b) Describe the $x$-$t$ graph: is it sloping upwards or downwards? What does the negative gradient indicate?
  3. c) Calculate the time at which it passes through the origin, rounding to one decimal place.
Solve
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Measuring the position of a trolley going down an inclined plane gives: at $t = 0\ \text{s}$, $x = 0\ \text{m}$; at $t = 1\ \text{s}$, $x = 1\ \text{m}$; at…

Measuring the position of a trolley going down an inclined plane gives: at $t = 0\ \text{s}$, $x = 0\ \text{m}$; at $t = 1\ \text{s}$, $x = 1\ \text{m}$; at $t = 2\ \text{s}$, $x = 4\ \text{m}$; at $t = 3\ \text{s}$, $x = 9\ \text{m}$.

  1. a) Verify that the data satisfy the relation $x = t^2$ and, by comparing it with $x = \frac{1}{2} a \cdot t^2$, deduce the acceleration of the trolley.
  2. b) Predict its position when $t = 5\ \text{s}$.
  3. c) Calculate how far it moves in each second ($0$-$1\ \text{s}$, $1$-$2\ \text{s}$, $2$-$3\ \text{s}$) and explain, from these values, why the $x$-$t$ graph is a curve and not a straight line.
Solve

Investigating with data and estimating uncertainty

Put forward the hypothesis "the trolley keeps a constant velocity". Film a slow movement on a stable table, with a visible scale and a fixed camera perpendicular to the path. Share out the tasks of measuring, recording and checking; do not film faces or publish personal data. You can also export positions from a simulation, identifying them as simulated data.

In a spreadsheet, put $t$ in column A and $x$ in column B; in C3 type =(B3-B2)/(A3-A2) and copy it downwards. Plot the x-t points, fit a straight line and check the differences between the measurements and the prediction. State the units, resolution, repetitions and possible systematic errors. The relative uncertainty of $v=(0,29\pm0,02)\ \text{m/s}$ is approximately $0,02/0,29\cdot100=7\%$; it is not a known true error.

Check your interpretation against a source identified by author, date and procedure. Present the data, the conclusion and the limitations; a discordant point is investigated, not deleted to improve the fit.

Now test the model and compare it with your data:

Back to the beginning: on a $v$-$t$ graph, walking at a steady pace is drawn as a horizontal line, speeding up as a rising straight line and slowing down as a falling straight line until it touches the time axis ($v=0$).

Summary

See all the exercises in this section